Watching from the nearby flight deck of HMCS Harry DeWolf, Lt.-Cmdr. Amanda Jayne was on hand to wave goodbye to her friend, Cmdr. Teri Share, the skipper of Margaret Brooke.

“It’s going to be epic,” Jayne said of the coming voyage. “It’s a big trip, not in waters we normally sail.”

Currently on maternity leave, the naval warfare officer had her young daughter, Morley, on hand for the departure ceremony. Jayne has sailed as far south as Chile with the navy, but Antarctica is another story.

Share’s the right captain for the mission, said Jayne, who met her during training at Royal Military College Saint-Jean 23 years ago.

“She has a ton of sailing experience. She’s been, literally, around the world,” Jayne said. “One of her first deployments was circumnavigating the globe on HMCS Protecteur. So, it’s kind of fitting for her to round out her at-sea career doing this.”

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/royal-canadian-navy-antarctica-deployment


It’s time for Poilievre to speak up for Canada’s defence: J.L. Granatstein for Inside Policy

We are in a prewar era and it seems as if it’s 1937 all over again. The dictators in Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang are on the march, the democracies are weak and divided, and Canada is unarmed. Making matters worse, the President-elect of the United States is threatening us with economic ruin. But for the first time in years, there seems to be widespread support for Canada doing more on defence.

Thus far, Pierre Poilievre, the presumptive winner of the next federal election, has uttered nothing more than the occasional sentence on national defence. But with Donald Trump threatening us and stating – correctly – that the US defends Canada and we do little, it is time for the Conservative leader to say what he will do when he takes office.

Read more here:  https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/its-time-for-poilievre-to-speak-up-for-canadas-defence-j-l-granatstein-for-inside-policy/


Matt McLeod joins Dickinson Wright LLP

Based in the firm’s Toronto office, Matt McLeod is a partner in the firm’s corporate and mergers and acquisitions practice group. With a tech background and engineering degree Matt is focused on early stage and high growth companies where his industry experience is a great asset for his clients. Matt also has extensive experience advising his clients in organizing and structuring new and existing corporations, partnerships, and joint ventures, and drafting foundational documents, such as shareholder agreements and other corporate governance documents. He advises companies and individuals in the negotiation of various contracts and resolving disputes. Matt also sits on the board of directors of a private Canadian licensed producer of cannabis.

Before joining Dickinson Wright, Matt was an executive at a private equity owned SaaS company, and an executive working for both private and public companies in federally regulated cannabis production and provincially regulated cannabis retail. Prior to these roles, Matt was a lawyer at the New York City office of a large Canadian law firm.


Contract Award Announced for new 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment facility at CFB Kingston

Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced the contract award for the new 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment (21 EW Regt) facility at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston. MP Gerretsen also participated in a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction.

The design contract was awarded to Colbourne & Kembel Architects Inc. of Kingston, Ontario. During construction, the project will sustain approximately 150 jobs in the region.

The new $98 million 8,350 mfacility will consolidate units across CFB Kingston into one secure compound, providing the necessary space to support operations and increase collaboration between regimental squadrons. The two-story multipurpose building will include new classrooms and administrative spaces that will allow the regiment to more effectively train personnel and plan for operations.

The new facility is expected to be operational in 2028 and will increase the Regiment’s ability to support electronic warfare personnel and capabilities, provide support to deployed electronic warfare forces and manage and maintain the unit’s material assets.

The 21 EW Regt, which is comprised of both Reserve and Regular Force members, provides tactical electronic warfare support to CAF operations. This support can take a variety of forms, such as intercepting and analyzing foreign communications, installing and maintaining radio, satellite, and broadband technology, and assisting with reconnaissance and surveillance.

Read more here:  https://canadiandefencereview.com/design-contract-award-announcement-and-construction-underway-of-new-21-electronic-warfare-regiment-facility-at-cfb-kingston/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR24UFC64hPS_CaM_wGFc2qAuUO8BSwlQ7MRvnK6nxQTd_4-ZOnVqPtHQKM_aem_0tgZd5w1VesuhnbHLeJ-lg


Ornaments carved from scrapped Kingston bridge keep its memory and ‘music’ alive

Tracy Hubbard remembers her family falling silent in the car so they could listen to the “Singing Bridge” in Kingston, Ont. — the hum of tires on the bridge’s grating that formed part of the soundtrack of her childhood.

The century-old crossing may be gone and replaced with a temporary span that can’t carry a tune, but when Hubbard holds onto her newest Christmas ornament, she swears she can still hear the music.

“That noise was important to us,” she said. “Now, when we drive over it, somebody always makes the noise, you know … ‘mrraaaaaaaaap’ as you go over, because we’re so used to hearing that sound.”

Hubbard’s decoration is a diamond-shaped piece of that original grating — one of the “keys to the instrument” that transformed every commute over the Cataraqui River into an impromptu concert.

Read More here:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kingston-causeway-bridge-christmas-ornaments-1.7412916


The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Justin S.C. Mellor, Manager of Litigation at the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Justice and Public Safety, in St. John’s, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, General Division, in St. John’s. Justice Mellor replaces Justice G.L.C. Noel (Gander), who was elevated to the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador effective November 27, 2024. Due to internal court transfers by the Chief Justice, the vacancy is located in St. John’s.

Justice Justin S.C. Mellor was raised in St. John’s. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, (Hons) in history from Memorial University, a Master of Arts in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, as well as Bachelor and Master of Laws degrees from Dalhousie Law School. He was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 2001.

Read more here:  https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2024/12/minister-of-justice-and-attorney-general-of-canada-announces-a-judicial-appointment-in-the-province-of-newfoundland-and-labrador.html


 The RCAF Association – General Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD Memorial Sword

The CFN Consultants team were very pleased to have the opportunity to host the outgoing and incoming Executive Directors of the RCAF Association, Dean Black, CD, CAE, SMP, CVA, CSP and Brook Bangsboll on Monday, December 16th, for the inaugural presentation of the General Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD Memorial sword to our recently retired Managing Senior Partner, Lieutenant-General (Retired) Andre JP Deschamps, CMM, CD.

Lieutenant-General (Ret) Deschamps commanded the Air Command/Royal Canadian Air Force | Aviation royale canadienne (RCAF) at a time pivotal to the entity, to the larger air force family, and in many respects to Canada itself, bringing enormous credit to all, owing in good measure to his steadfast guidance and leadership. Andre’s nomination was championed by Mr. chuck lovallo and the RCAF Association Board of Directors, earlier in the year.

The RCAF Association’s General Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD Memorial Sword will be awarded annually, on receipt of nominations, to an individual with service in the Royal Canadian Air Force who has demonstrated the qualities for which General Manson was renowned; qualities of leadership, integrity and respect so effective in their combination that they enabled positive collaboration, a disciplined pursuit of goals, and a passion for empowering others who, as he was prone to do, choose to aim high and succeed not for themselves per se but more so for the good of the institution or cause to which they are clearly devoted.

 


APEGA Names Paul Wynnyk, P.Eng., as New Registrar & CEO

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) is pleased to announce that Paul Wynnyk, CMM, MSM, CD, P.Eng., has been selected as its new registrar & CEO (RCEO), effective April 1, 2025.

Wynnyk brings a wealth of experience serving the public, spanning four decades in the Canadian Armed Forces and with the Government of Alberta. Wynnyk holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986 and currently serves as the acting deputy minister of Executive Council for the Government of Alberta.

“I am honoured to join APEGA as its next registrar & CEO, and I am grateful to be selected for this role where I may continue serving the public interest,” says Wynnyk. “APEGA has a proud history of regulating the engineering and geoscience professions in Alberta, and I am dedicated to ensuring we maintain the high standards that have been built over the past century.”

Wynnyk was selected after an extensive search by an executive search firm and a thorough review by an APEGA Council task force. The task force began its work in April 2024 when current RCEO Jay Nagendran, P.Eng., FCAE, ICD.D, FEC, FGC (Hon.), announced his upcoming retirement.

Read more here:  https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/13/2996993/0/en/APEGA-Names-Paul-Wynnyk-P-Eng-as-New-Registrar-CEO.html


Jason Donville – CEO Donville Kent Asset Management Inc. – Resilience, Leadership, and the Power of Hard Work

In this inspiring episode of Gale Force Wins, co-founder Allan Dale reconnects with longtime friend and former Navy colleague Jason Donville in beautiful Toronto. Jason opens up about his extraordinary journey—from a challenging childhood in Western Canada to his time in the Navy, his transition into the business world, and his eventual success as a leader in finance and beyond.

Discover how Jason’s resilience, principled approach, and relentless work ethic helped him overcome adversity, excel in the corporate world, and explore his passion for art and storytelling. His reflections on leadership, risk-taking, and life’s transitions are sure to inspire anyone looking to make meaningful changes in their life and career.
Jason is the President and CEO of Donville Kent Asset Management Inc.
Jason has had an illustrious career as an award-winning analyst in both Asia and Canada. Prior to founding DKAM, Jason was consistently ranked as one of the top financial services analysts in the country.

He served as the Head of Equity Research at Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia and as Research Director at Credit Suisse First Boston in Singapore and Jakarta before joining Sprott Securities in Toronto as a Financial Services Analyst. His research has always been focused on finding the highest ROE companies in the market.

Since founding DKAM in 2008, he has led the team to superior performance, having outperformed the market in 12 of the last 16 years.

Jason has a BA from the Royal Military College of Canada, an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University, is a certified Portfolio Manager, and holds the ICD.D designation.


How Toronto’s army barracks became shelters almost 80 years ago

During the Second World War and for a decade after, Canada faced an unprecedented housing crisis. People had flocked to cities to work at munitions plants, causing a severe housing shortage, and the return of Canada’s 620,000 veterans only exacerbated the situation.

The crisis was especially acute in Toronto, a magnet for post-war immigration. In response, the federal government moved more than 1,000 homeless families into army barracks. “Not many people are aware that former army barracks housed more than 5,000 people well into the early 1950s,” says Kevin Brushett, an associate professor at Royal Military College of Canada. “In the eyes of most Canadians, homeless people and emergency shelters are recent problems.”

By 1944, one of the most pressing issues was the number of families facing eviction. With more people flocking to the city, landlords often kicked out existing tenants so that they could rent to those who could pay more or had fewer children. The situation was so dire that the federal government ignored the protests of “real estate men” and placed strict regulations on landlords, forbidding them from evicting tenants.

Read more here: https://www.tvo.org/article/how-torontos-army-barracks-became-shelters-almost-80-years-ago


The 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD) Command Team was at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas last week to present military awards to its Canadian Armed Forces members.
CSA and CAF Astronaut, Colonel Jeremy Hansen, received the King’s Coronation medal, which commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada. Col Hansen led Canada’s national procession at the coronation in London, England as Canada’s flag bearer. As such, he received the British version of the King’s Coronation medal. Col Hansen, who served as a fighter pilot before becoming an astronaut, is a member of NASA’s ARTEMIS II crew that will circumnavigate the moon.
3 CSD Commander, BGen Chris Horner, also presented two Space Skill Specialist Badges (SSSB) which recognizes a member’s formal space qualifications and experience in the space domain. The first went to CSA and CAF Astronaut, Colonel Josh Kutryk. Col Kutryk, who also served as a fighter pilot before becoming an astronaut, will be the next Canadian to fly to the International Space Station.
Capt Erin Edwards, the first-ever Canadian Astronaut Coordination Officer and the first non-astronaut to be named NASA’s Astronaut Office Operations Officer, and the first non-astronaut Canadian qualified as a Capsule Communicator flight controller, also received the SSSB in a brief ceremony overlooking Houston’s Mission Control floor.
Additionally, BGen Horner presented his Commander’s Coin to CSA Astronaut, Dr. Jenni Gibbons as an acknowledgement on behalf of the RCAF for her continued dedicated service to Canada in the space domain. Dr. Gibbons is assigned as Col Hansen’s backup for the ARTEMIS II mission. Congratulations to all these incredible individuals!

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May today announced changes to the Shadow Cabinet, appointing two remarkable individuals, Dr. Jennifer Purdy and Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik, to key critic roles in Defence and Health, respectively.

Dr. Jennifer Purdy (she/her) is a family medicine physician specializing in evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine in Ottawa. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada with a Bachelor of Arts in 1998, Dr. Purdy went on to earn her Medical Degree from the University of Ottawa in 2008 and completed her residency in Family Medicine in 2010.

With over 23 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, Dr. Purdy brings a wealth of experience and insight to her new role as Defence Critic, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of health and military policy.

“I am so very grateful to have two extraordinary women, medical doctors, who advocate bravely for change as key strategic parts of the Green Party team,” said Elizabeth May.  Dr. Jennifer Purdy, with her invaluable experience as a practicing physician and Canadian Armed Forces veteran, brings critical expertise to the Defence file. Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik’s remarkable leadership in global health and dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable communities will enrich our work in advocating for a healthier and more equitable Canada. I cannot wait to serve in parliament with both Jennifer Purdy and Anne Marie Zajdlik in the Green Caucus! ” Dr. Purdy is also intending to run in Kanata, Ontario.

Read more here:  https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2025-01-14/green-party-leader-elizabeth-may-announces-changes-shadow-cabinet


Homiak Named New Chief of Staff of Virginia Military Institute 

LEXINGTON, Va. Jan. 16, 2024 — Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Travis Homiak ’95, former commanding officer of the Naval ROTC unit at Virginia Military Institute, has been named VMI’s new chief of staff, assuming the position most recently held by Col. John Young.   

As a VMI cadet, Homiak double majored in international studies and German, and was a member of the swim team. He earned the Lemuel MacKennie Long Jarman Award, and the First Jackson-Hope Medal, for highest attainment in scholarship. Upon graduation, he commissioned into the Marine Corps where he served for over 30 years.Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Travis Homiak ’95, former commanding officer of the Naval ROTC unit at Virginia Military Institute, has been named VMI’s new chief of staff.

Originally a ground intelligence officer, Homiak served as a scout sniper platoon commander before entering the reconnaissance and special operations community. He was the first ground intelligence officer to serve as a reconnaissance platoon commander in the 1st Marine Division and served at every level of command up to the regimental level. He was commanding officer of the Marine Raider Training Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 

Homiak was deployed multiple times including leading 3d Reconnaissance Battalion in combat in the upper Sangin River Valley of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; serving as a reconnaissance battalion operations officer in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Phantom Fury/Al Fajr; and leading a U.S./U.K. special forces team that trained Yemen’s national counterterrorism force.  

Homiak holds two Master of Arts degrees from the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, and a third from the National War College in Washington, D.C. He holds a doctorate in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Prior to his retirement last summer, Homiak oversaw the 50th anniversary of the VMI NROTC unit.   

Read more here:  https://www.vmi.edu/news/headlines/2024-2025/homiak-named-new-chief-of-staff.php


I am very pleased to announce that I have started a new position as Director of Sales for Cellula Robotics Ltd. of Burnaby, BC. This is a full-time position with global responsibilities.  I am very much looking forward to helping Cellula attain its ambitious growth objectives. The Cellula management team has a lot of fire power with Alex Johnson, P.Eng., Director of Products, Raewyn Charlesworth, Director of Business Services, Neil Manning, CEO, and Eric Jackson, President. We have a busy event calendar for 2025, and I’m looking forward to seeing business colleagues at various events this year, starting with Navy Tech in Helsinki.

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is a proudly Canadian, privately owned, world-leading marine technology company focused on revolutionizing underwater security through advanced Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems. Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia with additional offices on the East Coast of Canada and the United States, Cellula employs over 80 dedicated professionals, including highly skilled engineers, designers, and technicians. Cellula Robotics Ltd. is driven by a mission to redefine the paradigm of underwater security. By harnessing the potential of cutting-edge AUVs, we aim to change the way the world approaches subsea security. Driven by innovation and industry knowledge, we are committed to crafting sustainable solutions for the defense, mineral exploration, and energy sectors. Our hydrogen fuel cell-powered long range AUVs address evolving demands, propelling us towards a greener future.


Captain Jackie Ruis received the Army Achievement Medal for her contributions during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in September 2024
Shared by Erin Edwards, NASA JSC Deputy Branch Chief Crew Operations

Jackie is on loan from the RCAF to the US Army as an instructor pilot flying the CH147 Chinook with Bravo Company 3-82nd General Support Aviation Battalion.

I’ve held short on the FATO as Jackie took off from CFB Petawawa a few times, I usually stayed out of the way ‘cuz her machine was so much bigger than mine aka ‘caution wake turbulence’!!

She’s a fantastic pilot, a great colleague, and an incredible example of Canadian professionalism in her current post to the US Army.

 


Kingston’s Mayor seeking federal Conservative nomination

1

Kingston, Ont., Mayor Bryan Paterson has joined the race to represent Kingston and the Islands for the Conservatives in the upcoming federal election.

Paterson made the announcement during a reception Thursday hosted by a group called “We Choose Bryan,” which has spent months encouraging him to run.

At times it felt more like a campaign event than a first step into federal politics, with a packed ballroom breaking out in applause at several points during the mayor’s speech.

Paterson said the biggest challenges facing Kingston, from housing to the cost of living, are national problems that need national solutions, so he wants to be part of the next federal government.

He described the current Liberal government as “worn out,” and said there’s a deep desire for something different.

“It’s almost a despair, frustration. I think people are really, really wanting that change,” said Paterson, promising to “build a big blue tent” with room for everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation and more.

Paterson is in his third term as mayor of the eastern Ontario city with a population of 132,500. An economics professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, he was first elected in 2014 and said he’ll continue in his role as mayor for now.

If he wins the Conservative nomination, Paterson told the crowd he’ll take an unpaid leave of absence from his mayoral and teaching jobs once the federal election begins. He has already stepped back from the Ontario Big City Mayors and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario board.

Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kingston-islands-mayor-conservative-nomination-candidate-2025-1.7439425


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